Butler Basketball: NBA Draft profile of scoring machine Kelan Martin

Fit in the NBA

Offseason preparation

Even though Martin struggled with his shot a bit at the Portsmouth Invitational, it is important to note that this did not take away from his all-around play. He was unable to land a spot on the All-Tournament team but made his mark in several ways while helping his team take the championship. Over the course of the weekend in Virginia, he averaged 9.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while playing in 28.3 minutes per game.

An event like the PIT is not a place where Martin is poised to succeed in, though. He is at his best when playing within a team dynamic and working through designed plays. He did not impress very much at the PIT but there will be more opportunities in the coming months. Martin strikes me as the type of player who can succeed in individual workouts that include structured drills and 3-on-3 games.

While he would have preferred to shoot the ball better from the floor and put up more points at the PIT, scoring is something that NBA teams should already know that he can do. Martin excels in catch-and-shoot situations from beyond the arc and is rarely phased when defenders are in his vicinity. He showed this past season with Butler that he can be the go-to scorer in an offense while also deferring to others when necessary.

Role at the next level

Despite not being mentioned in a lot of mock drafts, Kelan Martin has the ability to find a role in the NBA. As measured at the Portsmouth Invitational recently, Martin stands at 6’7″ in shoes with an excellent 7’3″ wingspan. These measurables make him a more appealing prospect that what most originally thought. If he is able to improve his lateral quickness and break-out speed, then we are looking at a potential 3-and-D bench scorer in the NBA.

This is not a role that should be looked at lightly either. In today’s game, having bench wings who can provide deep shooting as well as lockdown defense is incredibly valuable. NBA teams are always looking to improve their bench and sometimes these second-round selections do not mean to low-floor-high-ceiling guys. Martin might not have the potential of some other players to become stars but he is one of the better players in the draft right now. That has to mean something.

Potential draft position

Due to the nature of Martin playing all four years in college, there is a chance that he is passed on during the draft due to his age and limited upside. Yet, at some point, talent has to matter more than what might happen down the road. Martin is an improving playmaker and defender that exhibits high-end scoring ability. In my opinion, this is the kind of player who deserves a shot on a contending NBA team looking to add a piece or two to their bench rotation.

Next: 2017-18 player grades for Butler

While it is far from a sure thing that Kelan Martin will be drafted this year, there is a good chance that he finds a roster spot. His measurables at the Portsmouth Invitational showed potential with his size and his on-the-court production is hard to simply breeze past. Martin is a gifted scorer that could carve out a role in The Association.

NBA Draft projection: Late second-round pick to undrafted.